Review of Beach Read by Emily Henry.
“And that was the moment I realized: when the world felt dark and scary, love could whisk you off to go dancing; laughter could take some of the pain away; beauty could punch holes in your fear. I decided then that my life would be full of all three.”
– Beach Read
Emily Henry
Emily Henry’s ‘Beach Read’ is a delightful summer escape with unforgettable characters and unexpected depths
Synopsis
He doesn’t believe in happy endings.
She’s lost her faith that they exist.
But could they find one together?
January is a hopeless romantic who likes narrating her life as if she’s the heroine in a blockbuster movie.
Augustus is a serious literary type who thinks true love is a fairy-tale.
January and Augustus are not going to get on.
But they actually have more in common than you’d think:
They’re both broke.
They’ve got crippling writer’s block.
They need to write bestsellers before the end of the summer.
The result? A bet to see who can get their book published first.
The catch? They have to swap genres.
The risk? In telling each other’s stories, their worlds might be changed entirely…
Review
Is Emily Henry my new favourte contemporary romance author? This is the first book I’ve read written by Henry and I feel like I am missing out. Is she the author that will redefine contemporary/romance literature for me?
Ahhh, such a fantastic book! Emily Henry’s Beach Read took me on an exciting and fun adventure. I read this book very quickly, which is impressive considering my long period of being in a reading slump. It’s absolutely what I needed this week and the vibe of the book even fit the beautiful weather of the past week in Belgium perfectly.
The characters in this story, January and Gus, captured my heart entirely. They possessed an undeniable allure and a complexity that kept me engaged from start to finish. Henry masterfully weaved their stories, infusing them with depth and authenticity that made them come alive on the pages.
“When I watch you sleep,” he said shakily, “I feel overwhelmed that you exist.”
The beautiful and flawless dance between enemies and lovers, performed perfectly in the book Beach Read, touched my heart deeply as I read the story. I could almost feel the intense emotions that January went through in her journey, as if they were tangible and resonating within my own being. The intense and passionate feelings that existed between the characters were portrayed incredibly well, making me eagerly look forward to every moment they spent together.
While the story itself has a cheerful and pleasant feel, Henry skillfully incorporates interesting ideas that make the plot more intricate. She fearlessly explores the complicated relationships that occur when one person cheats on another, delving into the effects and emotional distress it causes. Furthermore, the addition of information about a cult brings a fascinating surprise, which creates an interesting background for the growing love story.
I will definitely read Henry’s other books this summer.
Would I recommend it?
Beach Read really stuck with me, and I highly suggest it to other book enthusiasts looking for a captivating and fulfilling read. Emily Henry’s writing effortlessly takes you to a world full of feelings, clever conversation, and meaningful revelations. This book is a true treasure that made my days better and reminded me how love and finding yourself can change everything.
Rating
8,5/10
Details
Trigger warnings
Alcohol abuse, cancer (past, in remission), car accident, character death (parents, referenced), cheating (past), child abuse (past), child neglect (past), cult (suicide cult, past), drunk-driving, emesis, fire (past), grief, physical abuse (past)
Representation
Lesbian side characters
Genre
Contemporary, romance
Pages
358
Publication date
May 9, 2020
Publisher
Berkley
About the author
Emily Henry is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read, as well as the forthcoming Happy Place. She lives and writes in Cincinnati and the part of Kentucky just beneath it.
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